A/N:
Alrighty, I'm back!
Chapter 26:
Kokasho couldn't believe this. Katara really intended to attend the meetings despite barely being recovered. The water maidens treated her injuries but it wasn't enough for her to be out of bed like this. He hated it. Hated this place. Hated these people. Hated everything that happened to his chieftainess while here. And more than anything, Kokasho hated the second prince.
"Your majesty, your body is very frail." A water maiden expressed. "Why not have Kokasho go in your place?
Shaking her head, "I have to go. As Chieftainess it is my duty."
"But your majesty-"
Katara signaled for her maiden to be silent as the woman combed her hair out to be styled into a single braid.
"What Ozai did is unforgivable." Kokasho spoke up. "You should demand he face consequences. This cannot go unpunished."
The maidens all agreed with Kokasho and voiced their opinions. All of them wanted blood for blood. Ozai's head for the torment he put their chieftainess through. However, Katara didn't agree. She reminded them that an alliance for their people came first. This could be for naught. Their people needed the aid of the Fire Nation. Katara would have to force herself to let her feelings go in order to see to it that this alliance was forged and the war was won.
Though she tried not to look like she had been to hell and back, her bandaged wrists and neck drew a lot of attention along with the stitches to the left side of her forehead where she had been struck with a heavy object. Not to mention, she clung to Kokasho as they made their way to the meeting room due to her balance being a little off. Everyone was eyeing her and whispering. Katara could only hope no one knew what really happened to her. She was both embarrassed and scarred by what happened. Tui and La, she couldn't even bring herself to think about it. The story was that she was taken by petty criminals wanting to make a ransom. It was rather ridiculous and she knew most wouldn't believe it but they still wouldn't know the truth.
Arriving in the meeting room, Kokasho walked her to their seats and Katara noticed the ministers of the Fire Nation were all eyeing her funny along with her own ministers. They were all surprised to see her and see how roughed up she looked.
"Your majesty, are you well?" One of her ministers asked her.
Katara could only nod as Kokasho helped her to sit down.
"Are you sure?"
The waterbender was about to verbally affirm that she was alright but her words died on her lips when she saw Ozai was present. Her eyes widened as she felt her entire body stiffen as she froze in place. Her ministers along with the Fire Nation ministers noticed this and they all exchanged looks as if to figure out what was wrong.
"Katara." Kokasho whispered as he saw her freeze up as soon as she realized Ozai was present.
Feeling like her life was in danger, Katara couldn't take her eyes off of him even as everyone noticed the terror in her eyes. She was making things quite obvious but she couldn't shake her fear. Ozai had really traumatized her. Those things he did to her. Killing their unborn child and torturing her for what she said to him beforehand. He punished her and did so without a care that it would scar her for the rest of her life. He was a monster. Everyone had been right and she felt like a deserving fool. And in her quest to try not to think about what happened and be strong for the sake of her people, Katara failed her mission.
As soon as Ozai's gold eyes cut to her, a frightened screech escaped her lips that quivered. She could no longer keep up her facade. Shame and embarrassment would hit her later but at the moment she was fueled by fear as she got up and nearly knocked Kokasho over as she ran from the meeting room.
"What the hell is wrong with her?" A minister for the Fire Nation asked aloud as others chatted amongst themselves.
The commotion of the room caused the Fire Lord to dismiss everyone except his two sons. Once they were alone, Azulon slammed his hand down on the long meeting table and scowled at Ozai.
"A perfectly healthy, bold, vibrant, and intelligent young woman. You've ruined her! You utter piece of shit! I wouldn't be surprised if your mother fucked the half-wit stablehand and tried to pass you off as my son!" Azulon continued berating his youngest son as his eldest stood there equally as pissed off.
Rolling his eyes as he folded his arms, "It takes two. Why am I taking all the blame here? My reputation is not unknown to anyone. Not to mention, that idiot girl started the affair. I tried talking her out of it."
"Just like you to shift blame." Iroh scoffed. "You bear the brunt of the blame because you are far older and are supposed to be wiser. She was your ward and you were supposed to look after her, not look at her."
"I'm sure if either of you were in my position and she came to you, naked and throwing herself at you, begging to be taken to bed, neither of you would refuse."
Azulon really couldn't stand his youngest. He really wished the bastard had never been born.
"But did you have to be so vicious in aborting the child?! Did you have to beat her?! Was torturing her necessary?!" Iroh shouted across the table.
Ozai shrugged, "I blacked out."
"Blacked out?! What is that supposed to mean?! Have you gone mad?!" Iroh demanded an answer.
Sighing as he was annoyed by this, "Katara has a smart ass mouth. I snapped and lost my patience with her. So, I knocked her out with a candle holder, dragged her out of her chambers at night and I got carried away in my methods to ensure she was no longer pregnant. I admit I could have been less hostile but she's as much to blame as I am."
Iroh lost it and told his younger brother off as the man just had an excuse for every damn thing. Eventually, Azulon had to silence them both as they went back and forth. He was furious and all his anger was directed at Ozai. Didn't the moron see what this would mean for their nation and the alliance? He just made things extremely difficult.
"Listen here, you son of a bitch! That girl is going to pass this task over to Kokasho! This makes everything far more difficult as he is not as negotiable as Katara! Which means our whole alliance could be fucked cause you!"
Not seeming to give two shits, "We don't actually need an alliance with these people. They need one with us." Ozai pointed out.
"And who brought her here in the first place?! Tell me, was this all a ploy to get that girl in bed? Didn't have the balls to fuck her when her father was still alive, so you wait till he bites the dust." Azulon humors himself.
"You seem awfully interested in my private relations with her. Jealous much?" Ozai raised a brow at his father.
Azulon sent a non-lethal bolt of lightning at his youngest son, sending the younger man to the floor on his knees as he clutched at his chest, gasping for air.
"Bite your tongue, you insolent fool!" Azulon's tone became much more threatening than before as he was fed up. "Now get the fuck out of my face before I accidentally kill you, you shit for brains!"
…..
"HELP!"
The bedroom door was busted open and holding a tribal club ready to bash someone's head in, Kokasho looked around to find an intruder. However, all he found was Katara in her bed looking like she had been fighting the bed sheets. He sighed as this was yet another night terror of hers. No matter how many she had, he always came prepared in case it wasn't a false alarm. Ozai hadn't faced any repercussions and could easily try to make contact with Katara if they weren't careful.
Kokasho waved down the guards that had followed in behind him and the ones poking their heads in from the balcony. "False alarm. Resume your posts." He ordered as he made his way over to where Katara looked completely embarrassed.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Kokasho placed his hand over her head as she buried her face against his chest and sobbed. He didn't say anything. Just let her cry it out until she fell back asleep. Once he heard her light snoring and felt her grow heavy against him, Kokasho laid her back in bed before pulling the covers back over her.
Returning to his post outside her bedroom door, Kokasho sighed as he leaned against the door and folded his arms.
"We're not letting that bastard get away with this, are we?" A fellow guard asked Kokasho.
Kokasho furrowed his brows, "Blood for blood."
The other guards all exchanged looks and nodded.
"Blood for blood." They repeated.
The following morning while the maidens were combing the chieftainess hair while picking out an outfit, Kokasho was summoned and could see Katara didn't seem interested in the selection of her clothes. He approached her and she waved her maidens away so they could speak privately.
"How may I be of service?" Kokasho asked as he fell on one knee in front of Katara.
Managing to make a light chuckle, Katara shook her head and gestures for him to stand. "You're not below me, Kokasho. Don't bow or kneel to me. We're co-chieftains."
"Even so, I'm willing to yield to you. Tell me, what can I do for you?" Kokasho remained kneeling.
Katara expression became a lot more somber as she stared blankly at him, "Kokasho… I am afraid."
"There's nothing to be afraid of. I am right here by your side. Always." Kokasho told her.
Shaking her head as she hung her head and started playing with her fingernails, "I'm weak and naive. I let myself be manipulated, used, and deceived. How can I lead our people confidently and I've allowed this to happen to me?" Katara furrowed her brows while still looking down. "All these years, I thought I worked hard to be strong and proud. My father raised me to be a chieftain that could lead our people into a new dawn. He toughened me out and was strict. I had harsh lessons to learn and was thrown into battle with feuding groups in the most southern part of the South Pole. I was to be this headstrong lead that couldn't be shaken. My father said I couldn't even appear to be weak because as a woman, there would be some to look for my fall. I thought it would be no problem to keep my head up but now, I can't even stand on my feet, let alone lift my head up."
"What happened to you, what you're feeling is not something to brush off as appearing weak. You were betrayed by someone who you trusted most and tortured by them. Anyone with blood running through their veins would sympathize with you." Kokasho tried to tell her.
But Katara could only shake her head in disagreement. "Your words are kind, Kokasho. You always look out for my feelings but I need an honest opinion."
"I'm being hon-"
"Kokasho, after all I've been through, you think I can't handle the truth?"
Kokasho sighed and looked away from her.
"Tell me." Katara pleaded.
Shutting his eyes, "Not everyone knows what happened or about the affair but there are whispers. Many don't look too favorably at you but fortunately for you, they only see you as naive rather than a homewrecker due to his reputation. You're seen as someone to be easily taken advantage of and for those that do know what really happened, it is not wise for us to let him go unpunished. That would be truly weak."
Katara figures as much. She leaned back in her chair and rested her chin in her head as she looked out the window, her hair cascading down her shoulders.
"How am I supposed to show my face now that people know?" Katara felt completely and utterly at a loss.
"We spin the narrative." Kokasho states. "Ozai is a known cruel bastard even amongst his own people. We must not let him get away with this. With or without the Fire Lord's approval."
Glancing at Kokasho, Katara furrowed her brows, "What are you trying to say?"
"Ozai should be dealt with."
"How so?"
Kokasho gave her a look that said it all to her.
"Absolutely not!" Katara rose to her feet and looked down at him in anger at his implication. "We're not killing him!"
Standing to his feet, "Azulon could very well sentence him to death, would you interfere?" Kokasho questioned her.
"Of course not! Ozai can die. I don't care. What he did to me...I can never forgive. I just don't want his blood on my hands." Katara swallowed hard, knowing she didn't actually mean that and Kokasho could tell.
Placing his hands on her shoulders, "then you must think of a way for us to deal with him."
The chieftainess looked hard up at Kokasho and shook her head, "Leave him to be dealt with by his father." She said before turning around, "It's not our place to hand out punishments to Fire Nation citizens on Fire Nation soil."
"You're making excuses." Kokasho accused her.
"So what if I am?!" Katara snapped as she turned around. "I'm confused! I'm not in my right mind! I'm trying to rationalize what happened to me and why he went so far! I'm trying to figure out if I might have actually deserved it because I still can't believe he did that to me!"
Kokasho backed off as he could see the mixed emotions the chieftainess was going through.
"Ozai was like a father to me! Anyone could tell you how much time I spent with him! Looking up to him more than my actual father! Then he was more than just that! I loved him! I genuinely loved him!" Katara shouted. "And for him to torture me! To kill my baby! Our baby! I don't want to believe it happened! I don't want to believe he did it! Or that he wanted to! What if someone put him up to it?! What if he didn't have a choice?!"
Trying to get a hold of her as she started going off on the deep end, Kokasho grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. He held her tight and shook his head.
"Katara, he did this to you. He wanted to. No one told him to do this. He's already explained what he was doing. You have to accept this."
Pulling at Kokasho's fur vest, Katara sobbed and shook her head. "But I don't want to! I don't want to believe he did this to me!"
"I'm sorry, Katara." Was all he could say at this point as she shook in his arms.
"Tell me, he didn't do this! Please!"
"I'm not going to lie to you." Kokasho told her in a calm voice.
"But I love him! He wouldn't do this!"
Kokasho only grew increasingly angry as he listened to the woman he loved cry over a man that caused her great pain. She was in denial. She didn't want to believe what had taken place. He would make Ozai pay for this. Trying to soothe the chieftainess, Kokasho caressed her hair and decided to put her to sleep using his bending. When she fell limp in his arms, he scooped her up and carried her to her bed.
"Forgive me, Katara, but I can't honor your desire to not punish him and neither can the rest that follow you. His blood won't be on your hands. I'll carry that burden. Even if you hate me for it."
Pressing his lips to her forehead, Kokasho walked out of his bedroom and signaled for the guards that had already agreed last night that they would join him in taking down the second prince. He ordered the maidens to stand guard of the chieftainess and not to let anyone into the chambers while they were gone. They all bowed to him. The ministers gave him looks of approval, all wanting revenge for the chieftainess.
…..
Shira took her time on the way to the Fire Prince's chambers after being summoned. She had been avoiding him lately after what took place as she was absolutely frightened of him. What he did to the chieftainess was unfathomable. She had witnessed it up close and felt terrible that she could not provide aid to the Southern Chieftainess in her time of need. Fortunately, she wrote to her benefactor about what happened. He would no doubt make his way South to check on the chieftainess once she returned home.
Arriving at the domain and then the chambers of the Fire Prince, Shira felt a bit uneasy. All the servants had seemed to eye her warily as she approached. Maybe they thought because she was a tribeswoman that her life was in danger by associating with the Fire Prince. She couldn't blame them. Many would begin to believe the same if word got out about what happened. The Fire Prince had a reputation for having a natural attraction to tribe women due to spending most of his youth in the Southern Water Tribe. Many in the North talked about staying clear of the man if ever they ran into him.
Inside the Fire Prince's chambers, Shira sat at the low table in the sitting room while the Fire Prince paced back and forth. She figured he was in a sour mood after what took place between him and the chieftainess. However, as the man finally stopped his pacing, he pulled a scroll from out of his sleeve and tossed it on the low table.
"I knew Ursa used you to distract me from Katara or at least, that was her intention." Ozai stated as he watched her read over the scroll. "I didn't care."
Shira's eyes widened at the scroll and realized he had intercepted her letter to the North Pole.
Narrowing his eyes, "Working for my wife to distract me, is one thing. Something I can overlook. But working for my bastard son! And reporting to him what I'm doing! That, I cannot overlook!" Ozai shouted.
Trembling in fear as her eyes rose from the scroll to the Fire Prince, Shira watched him pull a knife from his sleeve, tossing it onto the table for her. She swallowed hard as tears welled in her eyes.
"You have one of two choices, Shira, since I actually liked you." Ozai tells her. "Take the knife and kill yourself. Or if you haven't the guts to do that, I'll do it for you but I get to make it a slow and painful death. Your pick."
Crying, "Please, your highness, don't do this. I was only following my orders. I didn't even tell him about what happened to Katara. I left that out for a reason."
"And your reason?" He glared callously at her.
Shira cried and confessed to developing feelings for him. She didn't want to make him out to be a monster to his own son, regardless of Prince Sokka not liking his father either way. This was her last letter. Ending things on a dull note to show that there was nothing to report. Nothing more for her to investigate. She wanted to remain here and be an asset to the Fire Prince, nothing more.
Not believing her, "I take it you rather I end you."
"No! Pleas-"
The two are cut off when the chamber doors are busted through and the large tribesman from the South entered. Shira saw this as her opportunity to get away and took off running while the Fire Prince's attention was on Kokasho.
"The fuck do you want?" Ozai stared at the tribesman coldly.
"Blood for blood." Kokasho growled as he used swift movement to bend several ice spikes at the Fire Prince.
Ozai waved his hand out in front of him creating a shield of fire to melt the ice before it could touch him. "She sent you for me?" He furrowed his brows as the fire dissipated from in front of his face.
"I needn't be sent. An attack on my Chieftainess and the woman I love is a direct assault on me. You've made yourself an official enemy, Ozai."
Smirking, Ozai's fists engulfed with flames as he gestured with his head for Kokasho to come at him.
Fire and ice clashed back and forth. Servants ran to safety as the two men came crashing out of the chambers and brought the fight into the courtyard. The Fire Prince was thrown into the turtleduck pond and the water froze over his head as Kokasho jumped on top of him, forcing him to remain under water. While about to drown, Ozai stared unfazed up at the blood bearer as he simply heated himself up to high temperatures, burning the bastard off of him. Kokasho let go as his opponent quickly got to his feet, drenched wet, and sent several fireballs at him.
The men continued on fighting while Ursa was trying to get all the servants and her daughter to safety. Of course, Azula wanted to stay and help her father but Ursa slapped the girl before forcing her out of the domain. Ozai, you've truly lost your fucking mind. She needed to go get her father-in-law before things got out of hand.
Kokasho lifted the Fire Prince above his head and threw him into a pillar, sending all the pond water at him in order to freeze him in place. He kept his pale eyes trained on the bastard as he approached him. Ozai showed himself to be psychotic when he burst out laughing and spit blood to the side as he looked an absolute mess after being tossed around.
"Now, I know what it feels like to be manhandled." Ozai laughed maniacally. "I'll take a page out of your book and try it with 'your' woman once I've won her back."
Kokasho punched him in the jaw hard enough to hear a bone crack, "You watch your mouth, you whoremonger! Not in any lifetime will you even touch her again! Not as long as I'm alive!"
Ozai smirked as he looked Kokasho over, "Ah, so I just need to get rid of you then?" The ice burst off of the Fire Prince as he heated to ice all too quickly and summoned a massive amount of lightning that he directed at Kokasho.
Sending the tribesman straight through another wall, straight into the gardens that his mother had grown, setting it ablaze. Ozai stepped through the hole and had his amber eyes focused on Kokasho. He tightened his fists as they were engulfed in flames. This was an itch he had been dying to scratch. Ever since Ozai encountered this huge tribesman, he's wanted to snuff the life out of him. The bastard had the audacity to show up in the picture and make declarations of devotions to Katara. This moron didn't even know her all that well. How can he love her?
Cracking his knuckles, "You remind me of her father, Hakoda." Ozai spat viciously. "That idiot was always getting in the way of me and what I wanted. All because he secretly wanted the same as me. You know, I never did forgive him."
Kokasho glared at the Fire Prince as his chest ached, "Not surprised you're the type to hold a grudge."
"My only regret is I didn't kill him myself." Ozai smirked and resumed the fight.
Seeing that the Fire Prince has finally started taking their fight seriously, Kokasho noticed he was getting dangerously close to being burned by this psychotic prince. It was becoming obvious that Ozai was done playing around with him and allowing him to toss him around. He was ready to strike back and strike back hard.
Ozai got the upper hand quickly and tackled Kokasho to the ground, lighting his fists on fire as he punched the man repeatedly in the face while straddling him to the giant. "I'm so sick of you tribesmen stepping on my toes! Her mother was mine! And now she is mine! You just met her! I'm not letting you take her, You tribal hound!"
Blocking the next throw of the Fire Prince's fist, "You don't own her!" Kokasho growled. "Besides, she wants nothing to do with you now! Whatever you two had is over!"
"I bet you love to think that." Ozai laughed maniacally.
Kokasho waterbended the man off of him and hurried to get in position to fight him some more but was hit with a lightning blast that threw him across the garden, nearly knocking him unconscious. When he saw Ozai walking back towards him, the tribesman knew he needed to end things now as the Fire Prince was likely to kill him if he didn't act quick. Using his bloodbending, Kokasho halted the movement of the Fire Prince and was about to toss him over the wall of his domain. However, Ozai was somehow able to resist his control which caused Kokasho momentary shock.
Taking this opportunity, Ozai was about to strike Kokasho down but wasn't quick enough. The Fire Prince grabbed at his chest and fell on his knees as a pained expression fell over his face. His strained eyes looked to the tribesman that climbed to his feet to look down on him in victory.
"How could you turn on the last person that gave a rat's ass about you?! Katara thought the world of you!" Kokasho shamed the bastard that harmed his chieftainess.
In agonizing pain, Ozai stared coldly at the tribesman that was snuffing the life out of him. "And that was her mistake."
"Bastard!"
"Just send me to hell already." Ozai spat.
Giving the Fire Prince what he wanted, Kokasho was about to squeeze the life out of his heart and put an end to his tyranny. But, before he could, his wrist was snatched and he was stopped from killing Ozai.
"Guards, arrest my son on the grounds of high treason." Azulon ordered as he held Kokasho's wrist, preventing the man from killing his son with bloodbending.
The two watched as the palace guards hurried to snap a chi-blocking brace on Ozai's neck and cuffs that also blocked chi on his wrists. As soon as he was restrained, the second prince was brought to his feet and escorted away with the guards aiming spears at his neck. Obviously, they weren't taking chances with the hostile prince. Ozai gave an evil eye to his father before snorting a laugh at Kokasho.
"You'll regret not killing me, Kokasho."
Azulon stopped the man as he was about to finish Ozai off, "Leave my son to me. I will ensure he is justly punished for his actions against Chieftainess Katara."
Kokasho eyed the Fire Lord with uncertainty.
"I assure you, Kokasho. Ozai has crossed me for the last time. I will make him wish he were dead." Azulon told the tribesman.
While Kokasho was reluctant to believe Azulon, there wasn't much he could do. Last thing he wanted was to give Katara more trouble to deal with. He'd back down for now but one of these days, he would make Ozai pay for what he had done.
…..
The Fire Lord wore his usual stoic expression as he entered the chambers he had his youngest son chained up. He had to make sure the location was within his private sanctum so no one would dare try killing the damn weasel. Honestly, of all the shit Ozai has done, this was by far the stupidest shit he could have done. It was one thing attacking lowly nobles and residents of the palace but attacking a foreign sovereign, it was ludicrous. Azulon was in disbelief of how bold his son had gotten.
As he let himself into the bedroom where Ozai was shackled at his ankles and had several chi-blocking braces on him as one didn't work on him, Azulon saw the man sitting by the window glaring at the night sky.
"Did you know I asked Katara to take a look into who amongst our court was treasonous?" Azulon asked as he waltzed with his hands behind his back to the center of the room. "I already knew but I was testing her to see where her loyalties lied. Seems it should have been obvious to me from the start. You did bring her here."
Ozai scoffed, "What do you want, old man?"
"Justice." Azulon answered readily.
The Fire Prince burst out laughing. "Justice?! When have you ever cared about justice?!"
"When I watched my son corrupt an innocent girl and ruin her." Azulon's eyes narrowed. "You know I don't like many people, Ozai, but I liked that girl. Wished she was my daughter. She'd have made me proud which is far more than I can say for your hippy brother and your demented ass. Both of you are disappointments but at least Iroh doesn't make our family look like vicious savages."
Shrugging his shoulders, "What can I say? I get it from my father."
Azulon snorted and shook his head, "If only you had inherited my tact. There are some lines I don't dare cross and you've been crossing those lines since the day you learned to speak, Ozai!" He snarled. "Where did I go wrong with you, boy? Was I not hard enough on you? Should I have beaten you more? Or placed the fear of the gods in you so you wouldn't dare defy the order of things? Tell me, Ozai, what could I have done to prevent this from happening to you? Why are you so fucked up, son?"
Ozai could only sigh and continue staring at the night sky. If he knew the answer to that, they wouldn't be here discussing this bullshit. He did what he did. Did he regret it? Absolutely. Ozai would admit he took things way too far. But it had been done. What could be done to change it? Nothing. So he didn't focus on that sort of thing. All he could think about was what to do moving forward. How did he turn this all around to his benefit?
Azulon sucked his teeth as Ozai didn't even try to respond, just sat there facing away from him. "Due to the nature of your crimes and it being an international incident, I have to serve you a just punishment. You will not get off easy as you have many times before."
"Go ahead and sentence me. I don't give a fuck anymore. I've got nothing to lose here. I hate my shitty life and everyone in it." Ozai said as he turned to face his father and folded his arms, slouching.
"You sound like a damn brat, Ozai."
The Fire Lord had always known Ozai was an ungrateful son of a bitch but he just couldn't help getting pissed off at the remark. His life wasn't shitty. Ozai just always messed things up for himself and never took responsibility for it. That was probably where he messed up. Azulon knew he had always taken up for Ozai too much and let him get off easy for his crimes. His youngest son became the monster he was because of him. Azulon knew he was to blame.
Telling his son that he felt at fault for how messed up he was, Azulon looked at him in pity and in loath. "Part of me really hates you, Ozai, and I mean, I REALLY hate you. But the other parts is just sad that my son turned out like this. You're as evil as they come."
"If you think what I did to Katara was evil, then I might have to disappoint you there. I have sins far greater than that." Ozai smirked at his father. "Since you're here to punish me, I might as well tell you a little about my most recent sin. I promise it's far worse than torturing the girl."
Azulon didn't think there was much his son could tell him that he didn't already know but he was wrong. Ozai went down the list of his far greater sins, sins Azulon almost didn't want to believe as it didn't make sense at first but as he continued telling everything, things made perfect sense.
The war, it was Ozai's doing. Apparently, his bastard son was engaged to marry the daughter of the Earth King as established many years ago but Ozai had advised Hakoda not to let his son marry the Earth Kingdom princess. Appearing to be the worried father, he told his friend to allow Sokka to marry a woman he loved as his marriage would mean nothing anyway in the grand scheme of things. When Hakoda agreed, Ozai had someone make this known to the Earth King and made it look as if the Southern Water Tribe was insulting them. He continued for months getting the Earth King riled up and during the week of the wedding, Ozai had his goon add insult to injury to push the Earth Kingdom to declare war. When it was announced, Ozai made Hakoda a proposition to get Katara out of the country as he had planned for the Earth Kingdom to launch a full attack on the South Pole and didn't want Katara caught up in the crossfire as he had use for her. Hakoda being slayed was his doing. Call it getting even. Ozai had never really forgiven Hakoda for taking Kya from him. So that was one down.
As for Katara coming here, he originally intended to have her marry Zuko, so that when she was made Chieftainess, he'd have some foothold in the South Pole. Making the South Pole an ally for personal reasons. However, things changed when she was made Lu Ten's fiancé instead. Ozai decided he'd find a way to break things off. Having her kidnapped by the Earth Kingdom mercenaries to make Lu Ten look weak while going to save her to make her trust him again was all Ozai's plan. Sure, he didn't expect her to get stabbed or anything like that but he planned it nonetheless. Everything else just continued on in his favor and eventually Katara made it known to him that she wasn't interested in his son or nephew but wanted him instead, things took a different turn. He'd use her directly. Her father's death made her putty in his hands as he knew he was all she had left.
"I'd tell you the rest but it would be spoiling too much. I'm sure you've pieced together my endgame." Ozai smirked.
Azulon was absolutely appalled.
"I might have set myself back a little but things are still in motion for me."
"Like hell, you little shit!" Azulon shouted in a furious fit of rage. "I'm sending your evil ass to the frontlines! You will fight in the war that you have created! Even more, I'm denouncing you as my son and removing you from the line of succession! From this day forward, you are no longer the Fire Prince of this nation! You are a mere commoner now! Your marriage will be nullified and your children will also have their claim to the throne removed! Your plans for taking the throne are no more, Ozai! All your efforts are in vain!"
Ozai shrugged and returned to staring out the window, "As long as there is still royal blood in my veins, there are other ways to become Fire Lord."
Azulon narrowed his eyes, "Oh, I'd love to see you try, Ozai. I dare you to come and get it!"
"Your funeral." Oza smirked to himself.
"You wish, you evil cunt!"
…
It was an adjustment but Zuko tried to look on the brightside. He no longer had to answer to his demented father. His mother was finally free of the abuse she endured from his father. He could finally sleep at night not worrying that he'd wake up to his father's shouting at staff or his mother. It was an adjustment but Zuko was okay with that. The only thing that bothered him was that he had to live knowing his father had done horrible things to his childhood friend.
Combinghis hair into topknot, Zuko put a basic hairpiece over it and placed a hairpin through it. He no longer wore the flames of the royal family on his topknot accessory. His father's banishment included him and his sister being removed from the line of succession. While his grandfather stated they'd still be his grandchildren and allowed to live in the palace, they simply had no claim. This wasn't an issue for Zuko. He had always lived under the impression his uncle and cousin were the next in line and that the line would fall directly from his cousin's offspring from that point forward. Zuko never wanted anything to do with the throne outside of serving the sitting Fire Lord as his subject and relative.
As Zuko made his way out of his chambers, he made his way to the dining room to have breakfast with his uncle and cousin. When he got there, his uncle seemed to only be interested in drinking his tea while his cousin hadn't even shown up yet. Taking a seat, he heard his uncle sigh while the servants placed his plate of breakfast down in front of him.
"Is something wrong, uncle?" Zuko asked.
Iroh simply observed the hot cup of tea cradled in his hands, "The chieftainess is not well. Your grandfather has had me negotiate terms of the alliance with Kokasho and the ministers. However, during the meetings I have with them in their chambers, we're often interrupted by Chieftainess Katara's screams and crying. Sounds like a scream I hear on the battlefield. What your father did, he…" Shaking his head as he remembered what the girl looked like when they found her. "My brother is a monster."
Gazing somberly at his plate as he lost his appetite, Zuko remembered what he witnessed his father do to Katara. It wasn't something he could get out of his head. He couldn't even go visit her to see that she was alright. Last time he did, she couldn't even look at him because of his resemblance to his father and he couldn't help but feel guilty. Zuko had always had a sneaking suspicion that there was something going on between Katara and his father but he was always afraid to bring it up to her. Maybe he should have been more concerned with her safety than her hating him.
Sighing, Iroh got up from the table and went to place his hand on his nephew's shoulder. He told him that his father's crimes were not his sins and the fact that he went against his father to get help for his friend meant he was nothing like the man.
When his uncle left, Zuko toyed with his food with his chopsticks and rested the side of his cheek on his fist.
"How's that slut friend of yours, cuz?" Lu Ten chuckled as he entered the dining room and plopped down in the seat beside Zuko.
Zuko shot him a dirty look, "Don't talk about her like that."
Lu Ten groaned and rolled his eyes as he picked a piece of fruit off his plate, tossing it in his mouth. "What? She is a slut. The stupid bitch cheated on me with YOUR father and then he killed the bastard he put in her. Sure, it was pretty brutal from what father said, but she deserved it." He said nonchalantly as he chewed the fruit. "Plus, your father is getting what he deserves too. That asshole has always been fucked up, even you've said so."
"Katara was manipulated and taken advantage of!"
Scoffing as he rolled his eyes, "Oh whatever, Zuko. Anyone that saw those two together could tell something was up and it wasn't much of a surprise for those of us that know." Lu Ten snickered a little.
Zuko got up and was about to leave as he couldn't deal with his cousin. Lu Ten had been horrible to Katara too. He used to put his hands on her and even made attempts on her life while siding with their enemies. He should be getting the same punishment as his father but no. Their grandfather was just going to send Lu Ten to observe the frontlines for a few months. It was a weak punishment.
"Look, Zuko. I know you're trying to be a good friend and all but remember, one day I'm going to be Fire Lord. Kissing up to your whore of a friend won't save you if you get on my bad side. So, just keep that in mind. Family first." Lu Ten told him.
Snorting, "Fuck this family." Zuko whispered under his breath.
"Huh?" Lu Ten didn't catch what he had said.
Shaking his head, "Nothing. I'm just not feeling well." He replied as he was pretty much done with everything and went to skulk off.
Running into his sister that had servants around her carrying her things out, "You're leaving? Why?"
Azula glared at her idiot brother, "You can't possibly think I'm going to stay here after the shit father's pulled."
"Sorry, I just didn't think you'd want to leave. Our fam-"
"Look, Zuzu. Our father didn't just fuck your little water buddy and kill their unborn bastard. You know as well as I do that dad had a lot of other things he was doing behind everyone's back. No doubt grandfather knows about it and if you think we're safe just because we're his grandchildren, ask yourself where did our father get his cruelty from?" Azula hissed quietly at her brother while shoving her finger up at his nose and eyeing him like the gullible moron he was. "You'd be wise to leave as soon as you can. Things will get quite ugly around here for us."
As Zuko watched Azula snap her fingers for the servants to come on and carry her things out, he thought about what she said. She was right. Their father had been secretly planning to overthrow their grandfather, uncle, and cousin. He said so to him not long ago. It was only safe to assume their grandfather knew this and now saw them all as threats. Perhaps, it would be wise to leave the palace or capital all together. Maybe if Katara wasn't so messed up from what his father did to her, he might have left with her. But for now, Zuko would just play along until he, too, could slip away.
…..
Azulon was surprised that the Chieftainess agreed to allow him to meet with her directly to discuss the future of their alliance. He did express in his letter to her that Kokasho was not as cooperative as she was and that he didn't want what happened to get in the way of the best interests of their nations. It was wise of her to agree. The Fire Lord knew the young woman still put the needs of her people before her own.
As he sat in the sitting room with his guards standing behind him, Azulon grinned when he saw Kokasho appear with the Chieftainess on his arm and he rose to greet her. She eyed him with a void expression and rose her hand for him not to bother as she was helped down on the sofa in front of him. Katara clasped her hands in her lap as Kokasho stood to her side behind her.
"I see you're getting better." Azulon started.
"Somewhat." Katara replied.
Clearing his throat as he could feel the tension and decided to get right to it, "In the time that I've gotten to know you, I have come to truly admire you, Chieftainess Katara. You're intelligent, strong willed, beautiful, have an understanding of what must be done, and you have fire in you. If I wasn't told otherwise, I would have assumed it was you and not your brother that was my son's bastard. Honestly, I wish you had turned out to be his daughter, maybe things would have turned out differently. Or maybe not, knowing the extent of how fucked up Ozai is." Sighing as he shook his head and rubbed his temple, "My point is, I wanted you to be a part of this family. I still do. You are what this line needs in order to stay strong in the future but my youngest son and eldest grandson have both ruined that. I can't in good conscience ask you to marry into our family, Chieftainess Katara. Anyone else, I'd tell them to get over it but as I've said I admire you."
"For the alliance I'd be willing to get over it." Katara says stoically.
Azulon eyed her while rubbing his temple, "You needn't. I know for the alliance you'd be willing to do whatever. You've more than proved that to me, Katara. But no, I'll spare you more hardships."
"And how do you plan to do that?" Katara seemed as interested as Kokasho did at this proposition.
"Your nation has plenty of resources and wealth that is not to be overlooked. Buying an army sounds a lot better than offering your hand in marriage for one." Azulon smirked as he laced his fingers together.
Katara furrowed her brows and looked up at Kokasho, who seemed skeptical.
"Surely, there is more to it." Kokasho pointed out. "Buy an army but when the said war is over, what will keep us allies? You might have an admiration for the Chieftainess but how much longer do you think it will be before another Fire Lord takes the throne."
Azulon explained that while they may not be allies after the war is won, it didn't make them enemies either.
"And if the throne falls into the wrong hands?" Kokasho narrowed his eyes as he folded his arms. "How can we be sure the Fire Nation won't attack us under new 'management'?"
The Fire Lord shifted his gaze from Katara to Kokasho, "You're free to keep the marriage contract if you want. After finalizing some documents yesterday, I do have one more available member for you to take your pick of if you two are in the mood for forgiveness. Or perhaps, you'd like to marry my granddaughter, Azula, Kokasho? She's a lot like her father without his long list of crimes."
Katara raised her hand to cut Kokasho off as he got ready to say something.
"We'll buy your army." She stated.
Azulon smirked, "Excellent. I'm glad we could come to this agreement."
Katara got up to leave as did the Fire Lord.
"If your sovereign wouldn't mind, I'd like to have a private word with you, Kokasho."
The Chieftainess and blood bearer exchanged looks before looking to the Fire Lord. Katara figured that there was nothing wrong with it as Kokasho would no doubt tell her what was up later. She patted Kokasho's arm and told him she would go back to laying down, he could see the Fire Lord out.
When the chieftainess was gone, Kokasho eyed the old Fire Lord with distrust and folded his arms.
Waving for his guards to leave him to speak private, Azulon stepped to the giant tribesman and smirked wider. "Is the future of the Fire Nation truly a concern of yours?"
"In relation to my tribe's fate, yes."
"Perhaps, you can help me secure both our fates. Would you be willing to do that?"
Kokasho narrows his eyes, "What are you getting at?"
"What is that mantra of you Water Tribe people when you want revenge?" Azulon tapped his finger on his chin. "Blood for blood, I believe."
Kokasho turned his lip up in a snarl.
"My son, Ozai, is a bigger threat than you or your chieftainess know. The war, her father's death, her suffering over the last year was his doing." Azulon said in a grave tone.
The blood bearer's eyes widened at this as the Fire Lord explained what the bastard had told him.
"I believe Ozai means to find a way to take the throne in a non-peaceful way. Blood will likely spill in the royal family." Azulon's expression showed great worry. "Here I thought I was a step ahead of that bastard son of mine and he had been moving in a completely different direction. He is one cunning bastard and he is far too dangerous for even me to keep a grip on."
"You want him dead." Kokasho deduced.
The amusement returned to the Fire Lord's face, "Can you make it happen?"
"Why me?"
"I've been trying to kill that bastard for years. Indirectly, of course. I can't outright attack my son. It would no doubt go down in the history books and I can't be remembered as the Fire Lord that offed his flesh and blood. History frowns down on that sort of thing and I have a reputation to protect." Azulon stressed. "But Ozai existence threatens us both. So he cannot remain. Plus, after witnessing your fury the other day when you attacked him, I figured you'd want the satisfaction of avenging your beloved."
While Kokasho liked the proposition, he was no fool and knew that the entire royal family of the Fire Nation was not to be trusted. Especially a man that would offer his own son up to his enemy. There was more to this. More than what Azulon was willing to say but that was fine. Kokasho accepted nonetheless.
"Perfect." Azulon pulled a slip from out of his sleeve and handed it to him. "This is the division where I'll be sending him as he is now banished and being sent to the frontlines. How you go about it is fine. I don't care. I just want that son of a bitch dead and his corpse sent to me."
Kokasho bowed, "As you wish, Fire Lord Azulon."
Grinning, "And if I'm still alive by the time it happens, I'd like an invitation to the wedding."
Kokasho lifted his head and saw the Fire Lord look him over with amusement.
"Don't think I can't see just because I'm an old fart. I have eyes." Azulon chuckled as he turned his back to leave.
The blood bearer tucked the slip into the inner pocket of his fur vest and went to go check on the Chieftainess. He found her lying in bed resting as she had told him. Sitting in the edge of the bed, Kokasho rna his hand over her side and saw her eyes open slightly.
"What did he want to talk about?" She asked.
Kokasho smiled down at her, "He wanted me to keep you safe. Azulon thinks a lot of you."
Katara sighed and shut her eyes, "I'm just happy I'm no longer having to worry about marriage."
"You can rest easy from now on. We will be returning home soon enough."
As Katara drifted back off, Kokasho looked her over and knew it was best he mention none of his agreement with Azulon to her. She would no doubt be against it. It may be your desire to forgive or even forget but it is my desire to put down all that have harmed you.
…..
Tomorrow she will be on her way back home and far away from this godforsaken place. Things had been decided and none of her ministers were happy about it but this was what it was going to take in order to ensure the future of their people. It was agreed upon that Katara would buy the army of the Fire Nation rather than marry into the royal family.
Once the alliance agreement was settled, Katara had Kokasho speak on her behalf as acting-chieftain as she decided she needed to step down for the time being. It was temporary but Kokasho would be able to call shots as if he were her and that was fine by her. She trusted him. More than she trusted herself.
Sitting alone at her balcony patio staring blankly at her teacup as her maiden stood guard several feet away, Katara tried thinking of what she should do when she returned to the South Pole as she knew her grandmother would want to know why she made Kokasho her proxy. She didn't want her grandmother to know all the details, especially since she couldn't really bring herself to talk about any of it. Just thinking about what happened...what Ozai did to her, it messed her up.
Shit! Katara swore as she ran both her hands into her hair and shook her head to try ridding herself of the thoughts. She didn't want to remember. Her body already wouldn't forget. She didn't need her mind reliving that experience.
"Some balls you have, Prince Ozai!" A maiden hissed as she and her fellow maidens had the tips of their whale tooth spears aimed at his neck, refusing to let him get past them.
Eyeing them all indifferently, "It would be in all your good interests to stand down or I'll be forced to put you all down." Ozai told them stoically.
The maidens were going to retort insults at him until Kokasho stepped in and told them all to stand down as he would deal with the Fire Prince.
Katara snapped from her thoughts when she started hearing a bunch of commotion take place from inside. She slowly draws herself from her seat to her feet and goes to check out what was going on. It came as no surprise when she saw it was Kokasho and Ozai arguing. However, she froze again as soon as she saw Ozai. Her hands trembled at her side as she felt herself break into a cold sweat. It was like staring at one's worst nightmare in its physical form. She couldn't even put into words what it did to her when she saw him or thought of him.
However, the waterbender tried reeling in her emotions. She needed to face this. Needed to face him and what he did. It might take her years to recover but she had to start somewhere. Katara hated how weak and humiliated she had been feeling as of late. She hated it more than anything. She was stronger than this but yet, she cowered at the mere sight of him. Maybe she needed to just confront him. Would that ease her despair?
Just as things escalated and Kokasho was about to throw his fist in the Fire Prince's face, Katara grabbed his arm and stopped him. She pulled him to her and away from Ozai, trying not to shake so much as she felt his eyes on her.
"What do you want, Ozai?" Katara asked timidly as she clung to Kokasho's arm, almost hiding herself behind him.
Upon request, Katara sat across from Ozai on her patio with her servants and Kokasho all out of earshot of them. They all just watched from the sitting area with the curtains pulled back to keep an eye on things. He wanted to talk to her privately but this was as private as things were going to get as she didn't want to be entirely alone with him. It took everything not to flee or attack him.
"Why are you here?" Katara asked as she stared down at her hands, twiddling her fingers nervously.
"Not used to you avoiding eye contact." Ozai remarked. "But granted that you're terrified of me now, I guess I'll just have to grow accustomed to it."
Katara kept her gaze down.
Seeing she had very little to say to him, Ozai sighed and removed the crown from his topknot. His hair fell to the sides of his face as he placed his crown on the table in front of himself.
"I'm being sent off to the frontlines tomorrow. My punishment for what I did." He told her.
Shutting her eyes tight, "Good. I hope you die."
"Figured you'd say something like that." Ozai sighed as he tilted his head, staring at his crown. "I just wanted to say that in the end, I resented your mother for leaving me and then forcing me to watch her die. She wasn't just my wife. Kya was everything to me and she took that all away when she died. I might have responded differently to you had you not tried to do the same as her and leave me. I might have let you keep the baby but I feared history would just repeat itself with Kokasho raising the child the same as your father did with your brother."
Katara slowly opened her eyes as she stared hard at her hands in her lap. She knew there was talk about it and even her grandmother mentioned a time or two but it was different hearing Ozai acknowledge it. The whole reason she was made her father's heir was because Sokka wasn't her father's son. He was Ozai's. It sounded wrong and messed up. She knew Sokka would loathe to hear it. He always did hate Ozai. Hated him for more than his affair with their mother around the time she was dying. Sokka hated the man that everyone whispered was his actual father.
"I didn't want to feel the same way towards you, so I did what I did and I let myself get too carried away with it. Now, you hate me. I'm sorry."
Katara shook her head, "You're not. You're never sorry. You're just telling me what I want to hear."
Shifting his eyes on her, "I'm not going to die out there, Katara. I have too much to do. Too many people to pay back for what they've done to me. And once I'm done with them, I'll make it up to you."
"No need. I want nothing from you!" Katara finally lifted her head to look him in the eyes. Her eyes were in tears but there was anger in them. She was angry. So very angry. But she was mostly just in despair about everything. All the years that she's known him, she would have never guessed he'd do any of this to her. It was one thing to be betrayed but he attacked and brutalized her. Killed their unborn child and taunted her about how he was doing her a favor and how she'd be an awful mother. Katara felt more heartbroken than anything.
"Your parents wanted me to look after you. I still-"
"My parents would have killed you were they alive to know what you did to me! Don't ever mention them and what they wanted to me again!" Katara pushed herself from her seat and scowled at him. "You killed my baby, Ozai! You killed them! You took them away from me! You son of a bitch! I hate you!"
Ozai exhaled deeply and stood up from his seat, "Had things been different, I wouldn't have-"
"Had things been different, I would have listened to Kokasho and my grandmother! They were right about you!"
Knowing there wasn't much he could say to get through to her, Ozai pushed his crown to her. "I'm no longer a Fire Prince. My status has been reduced. I'd rather you keep it instead of me having to hand it over to my father."
"Why would I want to keep it?" Katara asked in a cold bitter tone as she stared vacantly at the crown.
"In case I die." He told her.
"I thought you weren't going to die." She cut her eyes back to him.
Shrugging, "One never knows when they have enemies on the side of allies. We'll see. I don't plan on dying but if I do, keep it."
Katara decided to say nothing else to that effect. She had nothing more to say. If he died, then good enough for him. He deserved it. Even if she felt resentment towards herself for wishing death on him, she knew it was only because a small part of her hoped this all was a terrible nightmare.
"Perhaps, I'll see you at the frontlines." Ozai smirked.
Folding her arms over her chest, "It'll be your funeral."
"We'll see." He said as he stepped away from where his chair was and moved towards her.
Katara backed away as she saw he wanted to embrace her but before she could get far enough, he grabbed her and forced her into his arms. Her eyes grew wide as she stiffened under his touch. She felt like she was in a state of shock. Her servants were all about to take action but she signaled for them to stand down. As much as she couldn't bear through his embrace, she didn't want any fighting. Not right now. There would be a time for that but right at the moment, she just wanted to be anywhere but here.
"This isn't over." She heard him whisper directly in her ear. "I hope you know that." His hand caressed her back side. "I still love you."
The waterbender didn't move as he placed a kiss on her forehead and pulled away. She watched him leave as her insides literally dissolved into the pit of her gut and she sank to the floor. Words could not describe how utterly distraught she was at his words and actions.
When the Fire Prince was gone, Kokasho along with the maidens and guards rushed to Katara. He picked her up off the balcony floor and lifted her in his arms as she buried her face into his chest, began sobbing. She felt so pathetic. Letting this happen to herself. Even if it was done by someone she trusted, she shouldn't have let it go this far. This was her fault. She blamed herself for being so weak and naive.
"Don't let him touch me again! Please! I don't want him near me ever again!" Katara cried out in agony.
Kokasho vowed that so long as he was capable Ozai would never touch her again.
…
It couldn't be helped. Ursa was the happiest she had ever been in her life. Finally, she was granted everything she had ever asked for and her days of misery were behind her. Her years of petitioning for a divorce had been acknowledged and Azulon had granted it. She was free from her marriage to a cruel evil bastard. Iron had come early the other morning to tell her the good news. Ursa hugged him and cried tears of pure joy, praising his father for finally releasing her from this place.
The woman would be allowed to return to her home province and her children would be able to decide whether they wanted to stay amongst the royal family or live their days reduced to noble status. Of course, the two still wanted to acknowledge their royal blood. She didn't blame them and she didn't worry, since their father's wicked ways had finally gotten him removed from the family line.
To her great pleasure, Ozai was no longer a prince and had his status reduced all the way down to that of a commoner. He was also forced to join the military and be in servitude to his nephew, Lu Ten. His day of departure was today and Ursa watched with satisfaction as he was in the middle of packing his things.
"Oh how the mighty has fallen." Ursa smirked as she swayed her hips upon walking into her husband's bedroom. "You've dug your own grave and now you get to lie in it, Ozai."
Folding his tunics and placing them one by one into the single trunk he would be able to take with him, "I'm not dead yet, Ursa."
"But you will be." She told him in a harsh tone. "You will die. I pray you do. You deserve to die and I couldn't be more happier to know that things are finally going as they should! I'm free of you! Finally!"
Tears of joy ran down Ursa's face as she stepped up beside her ex-husband that was already clad in the kimono of a commoner. His hair was not tied in a topknot but now hung freely down his back and shoulders. All the pride he carried in his stance had depleted and left his shoulders in a more lax, lazy posture. Already he was becoming a shell of the man he was. Stripped of his title, status, dignity and pride.
Looking him over and liking what she saw as he continued to pack his things, "All your years of making everyone around you miserable, the moment you harmed the one person that truly cared about you, the gods have finally punished you. I'm glad you did take advantage of her. I'm happy that you broke Kya's daughter out of resentment for her dying on you. I'm elated that her suffering has called for divine intervention! The gods can ignore you no longer, Ozai! You will know the pain you've inflicted on all of us! You'll get it back tenfold! And I'm overwhelmed with joy that that poor girl's anguish has become your undoing! I pray she recovers and heals when she learns of your inevitable death. I know it will provide her comfort knowing your deeds won't go unpunished."
Having heard enough, Ozai hung his head and rested his hands on the top of the trunk. His breathing was controlled but he was clearly seething. Trying not to act on his impulse to beat her into the floorboards.
"I make you this one promise and only this one promise, beloved Ursa." Ozai starts in a grim tone. "If I do not die on the battlefield, then I will return for the life of every last member of my family. My father, brother, nephew, our treacherous son, our daughter if she tries to rise against me, and you will be the first I kill to kick things off. Mark my word, as long as there is breath in my body, I will not rest until you are all dead and that I have killed you with my bare hands. Agni, I pray I die too, Ursa. Saves me the misery of having to put you all down."
Slamming his trunk shut, Ozai hauled it over his shoulder and carried it out with him.
Arriving at the exit of his domain, the soon to be exiled prince was greeted by his father and an escort of soldiers that would ensure he arrived at his post on time and safely. Ozai eyed the soldiers and the younger men all avoided eye contact with him. Despite losing favor with his father, Ozai still had a reputation to be feared and these men, who had witnessed the horrors of war, were terrified of him.
"It's sad having to teach a grown man a lesson he should have learned as a boy but as intelligent as you are, some things you just never did understand, Ozai." Azulon started as he gaze indifferently at his son. "Your mother, before she died, begged me not to cast you out of the palace for any reason that might come up. I promise her you'd never set foot out of the palace unless it was assured you'd come back. As much as I still love your mother after all these years, I must break my word to her. She didn't know how rotten of a son she had given me."
Ozai didn't even look at his father. The man always had a way of talking down to him like he was still a child. Also, his father seemed to remember his mother so fondly when he mentioned her but Ozai remembered the isolation his mother was placed in. His mother couldn't leave past the massive garden around the domain. She had been a very young and frail woman, forced into servitude by the Fire Lord. Ozai remembered hearing his mother pray for death so she could leave this place at last. He knew his mother didn't give his father a son like him. It was reversed. His father gave his mother a rotten son.
Azulon's brows furrowed as he waved the soldiers away to speak to Ozai privately.
"You punished that girl for her mother's sins, didn't you?"
"I did n-"
"Kya didn't leave you because she wanted to." Azulon cut him off. "Nor did she die of natural causes."
This new and sudden information caught Ozai off guard as he looked at his father in confusion.
Azulon grinned at this, "All these years you blamed Kya for leaving you and resented her for it but you never did know why she left in the first place or where her sudden terminal 'illness' came from. Fortunately, I have those answers for you and I'll be more than willing to tell you if you return."
Furrowing his brows angrily, "Was it your doing?!"
"Don't jump to conclusions so easily but I will say I share some of the blame." Azulon said with a chuckle. "I never did like that woman but I never wanted her dead. Kya had such soft skin. I do miss her."
Ozai's eyes widened at the implications and he was about to attack his father when he was struck with another blast of lightning. Azulon called for the soldiers to return and pick his pathetic son off the ground.
"You touched her! You touched my Kya!" Ozai raged as he was restrained by several guards.
Azulon smirked, "I won't deny that. Why else do you think I agreed to let you marry that peasant? Not out of the goodness of my heart." He burst out laughing, "Oh, Kya was willing to do anything for you, my son. And I mean anything. Too bad you hated her in the end and even took that hate out on her daughter. Maybe you two will be reunited soon."
The Fire Lord relished in the look of anguish on his son's face at this stark realization. Ozai wasn't the only one with a set of secret sins. Azulon began to laugh maniacally as he saw tears form in his son's eyes. Oh, he hadn't seen Ozai like this in years. He hoped that misery followed him to the grave.
"What did you do to Kya?!" Ozai demanded to know as he trembled with anger.
Azulon smiled, "Live and I'll tell you everything you don't know."
"Bastard! Tell me now! What did you do to my wife?!" The second prince lunged at his father and Azulon knocked him back with a lightning whip.
Glaring at his pathetic son, the Fire Lord snapped his fingers for the soldiers to take his son away.
"Keep a chi-blocking brace around his neck! I don't want that annoying fuck using his bending on anyone!" Azulon ordered.
….
"Katara!" Kokasho heard the Chieftain woman's grandmother call her name as she raced towards them.
Obviously, she had been worried sick after receiving the letters from the ministers stating Katara had gone missing. Fortunately, none of them explained what they discovered once she was found but Kokasho planned to tell her himself as he could see Katara barely saying much to her weary grandmother. He watched her attempt to divert her grandmother's concerns but failed poorly. Eventually, the Chieftainess tired and excused herself to her chambers, needing to get away.
Kanna was about to follow Katara when a hand placed itself on her shoulders, "I will tell you everything but please, let her rest. You will understand once we speak."
Sitting in the elderly woman's tea room while gazing out at the scenic view of the capital city, Kokasho could see the woman was absolutely furious and would not be likely to let the actions of the second prince go unpunished.
"I always did hate that Hakoda befriended that damned prince. He always looked so much like his demented father." Kanna gripped her cup of tea right as she thought over the past, wanting to know if there was anything she could have done to prevent this from happening to her granddaughter. "But Hakoda was always so stubborn. Never wanted to hate the good for nothing prince whose own father didn't want him." Scoffing as she couldn't believe all that she had been told. "Katara's like her father in that regard. Even her mother was weary of Ozai and tried to stay clear of him. Kya wasn't all that sold out on that man and she married him for crying out loud."
Kokasho could see the old woman was trying to find what she could say but it was hard to swallow. He was speechless when he saw Katara and was told how she was found strung up like harvested cattle. They apparently didn't even treat criminals that way in the prisons from what the crown prince told him and to know the chieftainess had been handled with even less care than scum, it boiled his blood.
Kanna glanced from her cup to Kokasho and saw he was sincerely angry, "I assume she stopped you from killing him."
"The Chieftainess is quite merciful." He replied.
"But I am not!" Kanna hissed as she slammed her cup down on the table, breaking it. "That son of a bitch is dead! He stole my granddaughter's innocence and then tortured her! I want blood for blood!"
Kokasho nodded in agreement.
Standing to her feet, Kanna turned to look at the view from her tea room and clasped her hands behind her back. Her brows were kneaded as she contemplated what she was going to say next. She knew Katara was Chieftainess but she was not in the right mental state to rule, she knew that enough to have Kokasho fill in as her proxy until further notice. So, while her granddaughter recovered in mind and body, things needed to be taken care of that way nothing like this could ever happen again.
"You say he's been sent to the frontlines?" Kanna asks as she continues to look out her window.
Kokasho tilted his head and stared at the tea pot freezing over, "Yes. As punishment for his crimes, the Fire Lord cast him out of the palace and removed his title. He's been sent to serve his nephew at war."
Smirking to herself, "Excellent. We kill both those bastards in one go."
"The Fire Lord has given me the division and location of where Ozai will be. Even his own father wants him dead." Kokasho told the woman. "But I'd be glad to put them both down."
"No, I know you will but I need you to be here with Katara. Get her to forget that sick bastard. Find someone we can place amongst our troops and give them the orders to slay both men." Kanna ordered.
Nodding his head, "Blood for blood."
"Blood for blood." She repeated.
…..
A/N:
Wonder what's gonna happen to everyone as they try moving on with their lives. What really happened to Kya? And why did she really leave?